Historic

Albania, on April 26, 1993, through a Declaration, recognized the independence and sovereignty of North Macedonia and on December 24, 1993, established diplomatic relations with this country. After this act, it was continued with the signing of bilateral agreements for the promotion of cooperation relations in all fields, with mutual interest.

The joint commitment of the governments of our two countries to European and Euro-Atlantic values, to respect for human rights and freedoms for all, including minority communities, as well as to the implementation of international criteria and standards in the development of relations between free states and sovereign has given the cooperation between the Republic of Albania and North Macedonia the necessary basis for stability and long-term perspective.

In this context, Albania has seen and sees relations with North Macedonia as a priority and estimates that they are at a very good level. In the spirit of good neighborly relations and mutual cooperation with Macedonia and with the conviction that the stability of this neighboring country is important for security and stability in the region, Albania has maintained a clear and consistent position in support of its sovereignty and integrity .

The relations between Albania and Macedonia have a special characteristic compared to the relations between our country and many other countries. This, first of all, is explained by the fact that an Albanian population lives in Macedonia, which in terms of its number and participation in relation to the general population of Macedonia, is a constituent element of the state. In addition to this very important fact, it should be borne in mind that Albania and Macedonia share a long border line (land and water).

Our messages about the Albanian factor in Macedonia continuously encourage cooperation, integration, commitment and institutional action. Albania is convinced that the implementation of the Ohrid Agreement is a key element for the stability of Macedonia and its European future. In this direction, she has given the message that all political forces in North Macedonia, Albanian and Macedonian, contribute constructively and cooperate closely for the timely and complete realization of this agreement.

We have strong bilateral and multilateral cooperation interests with North Macedonia, not only as neighboring countries, but also as candidates for membership in the European Union. The opening of the General Consulate of the Republic of Albania in Struga, which covers the consular district: Struga, Ohrid, Manastir, Kîrçovo, Dibër, Gjevgjeli, Resnje/Prespa lake region, will serve to further increase the cooperation between the two countries.

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Economic-commercial cooperation

The strengthening of economic cooperation, the development of trade exchanges, the addition of cross-border and regional projects, the facilitation of the circulation of people and goods between the two countries, the development of projects within Corridor VIII, are only a part of the interaction between the two governments. This cooperation is realized between mechanisms such as: G2G, trilateral and quadrilateral meetings, bilateral visits, business and B2B forums, development conferences, cross-border projects, or projects within the EU, etc.

Trade links have expanded and the volume of trade has increased, despite the fact that we are still far from using our full potential. Further intensification of commercial, touristic, educational and cultural exchanges etc. is needed.

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Agreements with North Macedonia

1. Protocol between the Republic of Albania and the Republic of Macedonia for the opening of new border crossing points, signed on 12.12.1992.
2. Agreement on scientific, technical and technological cooperation between the Albanian Government and the Government of Macedonia, signed on 1.6.1994.
3. Agreement between the Albanian Government and the Government of Macedonia for the mutual protection and promotion of investments with Macedonia, signed on 4.12.1997, entered into force on 3.4.1998.
4. Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Albania and the Government of Macedonia for the reconstruction, repair and maintenance of the border line and border marks on the Albanian-Macedonian state border, signed on 4.12.1997.
5. Agreement on trade and economic cooperation between the Albanian Government and the Macedonian Government, signed on 4.12.1997.
6. Agreement between the Albanian Government and the Macedonian Government on measures to prevent and resolve incidents on the Albanian-Macedonian state border, signed on 4.12.1997.
7. Protocol on economic cooperation between the Government of Albania and the Government of Macedonia, signed on 15.1.1998.
8. Agreement between the Albanian Government and the Government of Macedonia on cooperation in the field of plant protection, signed on 15.1.1998.
9. Agreement between the Government of Albania and the Government of Macedonia for the international transport of passengers and goods, signed on 15.1.1998.
10. Agreement between the Government of Albania and the Government of Macedonia on the mutual execution of court decisions in criminal cases, signed on 15.1.1998.
11. Extradition agreement between the Albanian Government and the Government of Macedonia, signed on 15.1.1998.
12. Agreement between the Albanian Government and the Government of Macedonia on cooperation in the field of veterinary medicine, signed on 15.1.1998.
13. Agreement between the Government of Albania and the Government of Macedonia for legal assistance in the civil and criminal field, signed on 15.1.1998.
14. Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Albania and the Government of Macedonia, regarding mutual assistance and cooperation between their customs administrations, signed on 15.1.1998.
15. Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Albania and the Macedonian Government for Air Services between and beyond their respective territories, signed on 4.6.1998, entered into force on 1.1.2005.
16. Agreement between the Albanian Government and the Government of Macedonia for the avoidance of double taxation, in relation to income and capital taxes and for the prevention of fiscal evasion, signed on 15.1.1998.
17. Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Albania and the Government of the Republic of Macedonia for the establishment of the international lake line for passengers Pogradec-Oher, signed on 25.9.1999, entered into force on 20.7.2005.
18. Agreement between the Albanian Government and the Macedonian Government for cooperation in the field of health and medical sciences, signed on 23.2.2001, entered into force on 25.4.2003.
19. Agreement between the Albanian Government and the Macedonian Government for cooperation in the field of education and science, signed on 23.2.2001, entered into force on 18.2.2003.
20. Agreement on free trade between the Albanian Government and the Macedonian Government, signed on 29.3.2002, entered into force on 15.7.2002.
21. Memorandum of cooperation in the process of European integration, between the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania and the Government of the Republic of Macedonia, signed on 17.6.2004.
22. Memorandum between the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania and the Government of the Republic of Macedonia for the protection and sustainable development of Lake Ohrid and its catchment basin, signed in Skopje, on 17.6.2004.
23. Agreement between the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania and the Government of the Republic of Macedonia on readmission of persons, as well as its protocol, signed on 17.6.2004, entered into force on 15.7.2005.
24. Agreement between the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania and the Government of the Republic of Macedonia on cooperation in the fight against terrorism, organized crime, illegal trafficking of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursors, illegal migration and other illegal activities, signed on 17.6.2004, entered into force on 20.5.2005.
25. Memorandum of understanding between the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania and the Government of the Republic of Macedonia regarding the exercise “Adriatic Engagement 05”, signed in Tirana on 28.6.2005 and in Skopje on 8.7.2005.
26. Agreement on cooperation in the field of culture between the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania and the Government of the Republic of Macedonia, signed on 16.11.2005, entered into force on 5.1.2007.
27. Agreement on cooperation in the field of tourism between the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania and the Government of the Republic of Macedonia, signed on 16.11.2005, entered into force on 10.5.2006.
28. Agreement between the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania and the Government of the Republic of Macedonia on the opening of the international road border crossing point between the two countries “Xhepisht-Trebisht”, signed on 16.11.2005.
29. Agreement between the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania and the Government of the Republic of Macedonia for the mutual protection of classified information, signed in Tirana on 16.11.2005, entered into force on 4.4.2006.
30. Bilateral protocol between the Republic of Albania and the Republic of Macedonia and the AMBO Consortium “On the entry-exit point of the Trans-Balkan oil pipeline AMBO”, signed on 30.10.2006.
31. Agreement between the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania and the Government of the Republic of Macedonia on the mutual movement of citizens, signed on 13.2.2008 and the Protocol of the Agreement between the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania and the Government of Macedonia on the mutual movement of citizens during circulation in border areas, signed on 19.2.2008, entered into force on 28.8.2008.
32. Cooperation agreement between the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania and the Government of the Republic of Macedonia within the European Union membership process, signed on 17.3.2011, entered into force on 30.1.2012.
33. Agreement between the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania and the Government of the Republic of Macedonia on the amendment of the “Agreement between the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania and the Government of the Republic of Macedonia on the mutual movement of citizens, signed on 19.2.2008”, signed on 14.12.2011, entered into force on 6.4.2012.
34. Agreement between the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania and the Government of the Republic of Macedonia, for the settlement of the debt of the Republic of Albania vis-à-vis the Republic of Macedonia, regarding the repayment of the amounts in the account of the exchange of goods between the Republic of Albania and the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, signed in Tirana on 18.6.2012 and in Skopje on 27.6.2012.
35. Agreement between the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania and the Government of the Republic of Macedonia on the mutual recognition of driving licenses, signed in Tirana on 23.11.2012, entered into force on 14.3.2013.
36. Agreement between the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania and the Government of the Republic of Macedonia for the joint border crossing point, Trebisht-Xhepisht, signed in Tirana on 23.11.2012, entered into force on 5.3.2013.
37. The protocol with the exchange of diplomatic notes for the implementation of the “Agreement between the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania and the Government of the Republic of Macedonia on the establishment of the international lake line OhërPogradec”, entered into force on 4.8.2014.
38. Agreement between the Republic of Albania and the Republic of Macedonia on Social Protection, signed on 17.3.2015, entered into force on 1.6.2016.
39. Agreement between the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania and the Government of the Republic of Macedonia on cooperation in the field of education and science, signed in Vlora on 2.7.2015, entered into force on 23.2.2016.
40. Administrative Agreement for the implementation of the “Agreement between the Republic of Albania and the Republic of Macedonia on Social Protection, signed on 17.3.2015”, signed on 11.7.2017, and entered into force on the date of signing.
41. Memorandum of Understanding between the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania and the Government of the Republic of Macedonia on the prevention and combating of violent extremism and radicalism leading to terrorism, signed on 15.12.2017.
42. Agreement between the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania and the Government of the Republic of North Macedonia on the establishment of Cultural and Information Centers in the Republic of Albania and Cultural and Information Centers in the Republic of North Macedonia, signed in Washington, on 3.4.2019, entered into force on 1.4.2020.
43. Annex to the Additional Protocol on the Intensification of Cooperation in the Fight Against Trafficking in Human Beings across State Borders and on the intensification of Identification, Notification, Referral and Assisted Return of Victims, as well as persons suspected of being Victims of Trafficking in Human Beings, in addition to Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Macedonia and the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania on Cooperation in the Fight Against Terrorism, Organized Crime, Illegal Traffic in Narcotics, Psychotropic Substances and Their Precursors, Illegal Migration and other Illegal Activities, signed on 14.9.2007.
44. Agreement between the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania and the Government of the Republic of North Macedonia on cooperation in the field of diaspora, signed on 5.2.2021, entered into force on 14.2.2023.
45. Agreement between the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania and the Government of the Republic of North Macedonia on the establishment of joint border crossing points between the Republic of Albania and the Republic of North Macedonia, signed on 10.6.2021, entered into force on 1.2 .2022.
46. ​​Agreement between the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania and the Government of the Republic of North Macedonia on the creation of joint task forces in the field of security, signed on 14.11.2022.
47. Cooperation agreement between the Republic of Albania and the Republic of North Macedonia for the return of trafficked icons to their country of origin, signed on 14.11.2022, entered into force on 5.7.2023.
48. Agreement between the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania and the Government of the Republic of North Macedonia for the delegation of air traffic services in a part of the airspace over Lake Ohrid, signed on 14.11.2022, entered into force on 23.6.2.2023 .
49. Agreement between the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania and the Government of North Macedonia for international water transport in Lake Ohrid, signed on 14.11.2022.
50. Agreement between the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania and the Government of the Republic of North Macedonia for the development of the road connection between the two countries, signed on 14.11.2022.